151 After 27. ... Rd8, White plays 28. Qxd8+ Bxd8 29. Rxd8+ Kg7 30. cxb6 +-. 28. Qd7 Qxb3 Or 28. ... Rd8 29. Qxe6 (also strong is 29. Qxb7 Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 Ne7 31. Ne3 Qxb3 32. Qb8+ Kg7 33. Ng4) 29. ... Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 fxe6 31. Ne3, and after 32. Nc4, White will win the e5-pawn. 29. Qxb7 Bg5 30. Nxg5 hxg5 31. Qxa6 Diagram 175 Position after 31. Qxa6 White has a positional as well as a material advantage—enough for a win. 31. ... Ne7 32. Qb7 Re8 33. Qd7 Kf8 34. Qd6 Qxb4 35. Ng4! White is still attacking. 35. ... Ra8 36. Qxe5
152 Stronger was 36. Nxe5 Qxe4 37. Qf6 Qf5 38. Nd7+, winning a piece. 36. ... Qb3 37. Rd7 Ng8 Diagram 176 Position after 37. ... Ng8 38. Qd6+ The prophylactic 38. Kh2 was even stronger. 38. ... Kg7 39. Qd4+ Kh7 40. Nf6+ Nxf6 41. Qxf6 Kg8 42. Kh2 Rf8 Diagram 177 Position after 42. ... Rf8
153 Here the game was adjourned. Upon resumption White won quickly after 43. Qxc6 Kg7 44. Qd5 Qb1 45. Qd4+ Kh7 46. c6, Black resigned, as 46. ... Rh8 loses to 47. Qxh8+ and 48. c7. In the next example, Black brilliantly exploits the potential of the halfopen c-file. Game 35 Nimzovich — Capablanca New York, 1927 Diagram 178 Position after White’s 26th move 26. ... Ne7! Avoiding the exchange of knights and transferring his own knight to the kingside. The big question here is whether or not Black can profit from ownership of the semi-open c-file. 27. Red2 Rc4 28. Qh3 The best place for the queen is on f2; on h3 it has little to do. 28. ... Kg7 29. Rf2 a5 Expanding on the queenside. 30. Re2 Nf5
154 31. Nxf5+ Or 31. Red2 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 Rxd4 33. cxd4 Rc4 34. Qe3 a4. Diagram 179 Position after 31. Nxf5+ Black’s control of the half-open c-file and of the 4th rank gives him the advantage. 31. ... gxf5 32. Qf3 Bad for White is 32. Qxh5 Rh8 33. Qf3 Rh4. 32. ... Kg6 33. Red2 Re4! Black’s rook has taken up an excellent position. Now in addition to the semi-open c-file and the 4th rank, Black controls the e-file, the b-file, and the a7-g1 diagonal! 34. Rd4 Rc4 Black sneaks another rook into White’s camp through the 4th rank. 35. Qf2 Qb5 36. Kg3 Or 36. Rxc4 Qxc4 37. Rd4 Qb3. 36. ... Rcxd4
155 37. cxd4 Qc4 38. Kg2 Diagram 180 Position after 38. Kg2 Through his purposeful play, Black has taken control of the c-file, now completely open, while placing his rook within the enemy camp. 38. ... b5 Improving his position without allowing any counterplay. 39. Kg1 b4 40. axb4 axb4 41. Kg2 Qc1 42. Kg3 Qh1 Diagram 181 Position after 42. ... Qh1 White is in Zugzwang.
156 43. Rd3 Re1. A decisive infiltration. 44. Rf3 Rd1 45. b3 Rc1! 46. Re3. If 46. Kh3 Rc2. 46. ... Rf1, White resigns. Diagram 182 Position after 46. ... Rf1 Black wins after 47. Qe2 Qg1+ 48. Kh3 Rf2. A masterpiece, and an exemplary demonstration of how to use open and semi-open files and ranks. The next game shows White imaginatively using both the e-and g-files. Game 36 Kramnik — Kozlov USSR, 1989 Diagram 183 Position after Black’s 24th move 25. Rxe2! White finds a tactical key to the problems locked up in this position, decoying the Black queen to a “mined” square.
157 25. ... Qxe2 26. Rxg7+ Another decoy. 26. ... Kxg7 Not 26. ... Kh8? 27. Qh7 mate. 27. Bxh6+ Followed by capturing Black’s queen on e2. Black resigns. White used the g-file to decoy the opponent’s king and win material. B. Open files and the attack on the king The value of open files is often determined by the degree to which they represent a strategic road along which the attacker’s pieces can travel into the enemy’s position. The goal of such an invasion might be to win material or to create an attack on the king. As we’ve seen, possession of an open file is a positional advantage which, by itself, can often be a decisive factor. Game 37 Keres — Capablanca AVRO Tournament, Amsterdam, 1938 Diagram 184 Position after Black’s 21st move Black must protect his weak pawns at a6 and c6. All White’s pieces are strongly placed, especially the knight on d4 and the bishop on b2. From
158 the c4-square, the White queen puts pressure on the square f7, and White’s rooks are located on important files. White has a significant positional advantage. His active pieces make it not only possible but also obligatory for him to attack (as indicated by Steinitz’s principles). 22. Ne6! Simultaneously attacking the g7-square and the Black queen. 22. ... Qb8 Or 22. ... Bh2+ 23. Kh1 fxe6 ( 23. ... Ne5 24. Nxc7 Nxc4 25. Kxh2 Nxb2 26. Rd2 +-) 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Rd7. 23. Ng5! Not 23. Nxg7 Be5! 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. Qc3 Kxg7 26. f4 Rb5. 23. ... Rb7 24. Qg4 Bf4 25. Rc4 Rb5?! Better is 25. ... Bxg5. 26. Nxf7! Re8! Of course not 26. ... Kxf7 27. Rd7+. 27. g3 Diagram 185 Position after 27. g3
159 27. ... Qc8 This is the equivalent of surrender, but what else can Black do? 28. Rxf4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 Kxf7 30. Rd7+ Re7 31. Rxe7+ Kxe7 32. Bxg7 Diagram 186 Position after 32. Bxg7 White has two extra pawns, and the rest is easy. 32. ... Ra5 33. a4 Rc5 34. Rb4 Ke6 35. Kg2 h5 36. Rc4 Rxc4 37. bxc4 Kd6 38. f4, Black resigns, as 38. ... Kc5 is met by 39. f5 Ne7 40. Bf8. Game 38 Lempert — Tiviakov St. Petersburg, 1993
160 Diagram 187 Position after Black’s 26th move 27. Bxe5 With this sacrifice, White gets his rook onto the 8th rank. 27. ... Nxe5 28. Rb8 Nc6 29. Re1! Seizing the e-file and keeping Black’s king from escaping the mating net. 29. ... Nxb8 30. Qxb8 Ne4 31. Nd6+ Ke7 32. Rxe4+ Kf6 33. Ne8+
161 Diagram 188 Final Position Black resigns since mate or decisive loss of material is imminent; for example, 33. ... Kg6 34. Rxg4+ Kh5 (34. ... Kh7 35. Qb1+ with mate) 35. Qe5+! Kxg4 36. f3+ Kxh4 37. g3+ Kh3 38. Qh5+ Kxg3 39. Qg4 mate. C. Outpost on the open file A piece or a pawn can serve as an outpost — an advanced encampment — , around which your army can operate against the enemy’s home territory. Usually such outposts are placed on the 5th or 6th rank (for White) or on the 4th or 3rd rank (for Black). A piece outpost is usually protected by a pawn, and cannot be attacked by an opponent’s pawn. An outpost is useful because it not only weakens the enemy position but also can support the development of the attack in the center as well as on the flanks. Discovered check is the dive-bomber of the chessboard. — Grandmaster Reuben Fine Game 39 Fine — Botvinnik AVRO Tournament, Amsterdam, 1938 Diagram 189 Position after Black’s 21st move Here the White rook on d6 occupies an outpost, located on the open file. Behind this outpost, White regroups his forces, first winning the isolated a-pawn. 22.Qe3 Ra7
162 23. Nd2 a3 24. c4 Ba4 25. exf6 Qxf6 26. Rxa3 Re8 27. h3 Diagram 190 Position after 27. h3 White’s last move underlines his decisive advantage. Black has no counterplay. Besides, White’s knight is stronger than Black’s bishop. 27. ... Raa8 28. Nf3 Qb2 29. Ne5 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qf5 31. Qg3, Black resigns. Diagram 191 Final position Now 31. ... Rf8 loses to 32. Nd7 and 33. Nb6, and on 31. ... Re7 (to stop 32. Rd7), White wins by 32. Rxa4!
163 In the next game we will see the creation and use of an outpost on a semiopen file. Game 40 Tarrasch — Blackburne Manchester, 1890 Diagram 192 Position after Black’s 9th move 10. Nd5! Nxd4 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 Not 11. ... Nxc2 12. Bxe8 Nxa1 13. Bb5 ±. 12. Qxd4 Bd8 13. Rad1 Qe6 14. Qd3 c6 Black’s patience has come to an end, and he decides to push the White knight away from the outpost on d5. But this weakens the d6-pawn. 15. Ne3 f6 On 15. ... Bf6, 16. Ba3 further pressures the d6-pawn. 16. Nf5 Bc7 17. Rfe1 Rd8 18. c4
164 Fixing the weakness on d6. It is now hard to imagine that the backward dpawn will ever advance. White’s position is much better. 18. ... Rf7 19. Qh3 Kh8? Diagram 193 Position after 19. ... Kh8? It was necessary to play 19. ... Qc8. Now Black loses the Exchange. 20. Nh6! Qxh3 Or 20. ... Re7 21. Qxe6 Rxe6 22. Nf7+. 21. Nxf7+ Kg8 22. gxh3 Kxf7 23. f4 And White was able to realize his advantage. Strictly speaking, both the d5- and f5-squares were not outposts, as the White knight could be driven away from them—but only at the high cost of damaging Black’s pawn structure. Game 41 Karpov — Timman Zwolle, 1993
165 Diagram 194 Position after White’s 17th move 17. ... Ne5!! This unexpected and beautiful move leads to the winning of the Exchange. 18. Bc3 Or 18. dxe5 Qd4+ 19. Kh1 Qxb4 20. fxe4 Rcd8 -+. 18. ... Nd3 Black’s knight occupies a very strong outpost on d3. White now realizes that this knight is as strong as a rook. 19. fxe4 Or 19. Rf1 Bf6!, with a winning position for Black. 19. ... Nxe1 20. Qxe1 e5! Diagram 195 Position after 20. ... e5!
166 Destroying White’s center! 21. Nf3 exd4 22. Bxd4 fxe4 23. Qxe4 Bf6 24. Re1 Re8 Diagram 196 Position after 24. ... Re8 25. Bxf6 Also unsatisfactory for White is 25. Qxe8+ Qxe8 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. Nd4 Re1+ 29. Kf2 Rd1!. 25. ... Rxe4 26. Bxd8 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 Rxd8 28. Bxc6 The game has reached an ending where White does not have full compensation for his lost Exchange. Black’s win is now a question of technique. 28. ... Rd1 29. Kf2 Rd2+ 30. Kf3 Rxa2
167 31. h4 Diagram 197 Position after 31. h4 It is difficult for White to protect his numerous pawn weaknesses and to coordinate his pieces. 31. ... Kf8 32. Kf4 Ke7 33. Nf3 Rf2 34. h5 Be2 35. Ke3 Bxf3 36. Bxf3 Rb2 37. Bd5 Rc2 38. Kd4. If 38. Bc4, then 38. ... Rxc4! reaches a winning pawn endgame. 38. ... Rh2 39. g4. Or 39. Bf3 Rh3. 39. ... Rh3 40. Ke5 Re3+ 41. Kf4 Rc3 42. c6 Kd6 43. Bg8 h6 44. Kf5 Rxc6 45. Kg6 Ke5+ 46. Kxg7 Kf4, White resigns. D. The 7th (2nd) rank The major pieces (queen and rook) gain maximum activity when placed on open files. They are then often in position to invade the enemy camp. Especially effective is an intrusion on the 7th or 8th rank, where the opponent’s pawns (7th) or king (8th) are usually located.
168 Game 42 Vasiliev — Zilberstein Ukraine, 1993 Diagram 198 Position after White’s 16th move 16. ... a5! 17. a3 White is forced to play this move; otherwise, 17. ... axb4 18. cxb4 creates a protected passed pawn on c4 for Black. 17. ... Ra6! Black first builds up his forces on the a-file, and then threatens to exchange a-pawns to open the file to his advantage. 18. Ne2 Rfa8 19. Rab1 White is forced to abandon the a-file. 19. ... axb4 20. axb4 Ra3 21. Ng3 R8a4!
169 Diagram 199 Position after 21. ... R8a4! Preparing a major invasion into the enemy camp. Black’s idea is to play 22. ... Qa7 and then move onto the 2nd rank. 22. Nxe4 dxe4 Now Black also has the d-file, including his stronghold on d3, under control. 23. Rf2 Qd3! 24. Qc1 Ra2 The Black rooks begin to occupy the 2nd rank. Black has a decisive advantage. 25. Qe1 Rc2! 26. Rd1 Raa2 Diagram 200 Position after 26. ... Raa2
170 After penetrating the 2nd rank, Black now has a dominating position. He’s winning. 27. g3 Bd8 With the idea of 28. ... Bb6. 28. Bc1 Rxf2 29. Rxd3 Rg2+ 30. Kf1 exd3 White resigns Diagram 201 Final position The Black rooks dominate the position! Let’s review Black’s winning plan, starting from diagram 198: 1. Creating tension on the a-file with 16. ... a5!. 2. Doubling rooks on the a-file. 3. Opening the a-file and seizing full control of it. 4. Bringing his queen opportunistically to the newly created d3 stronghold. 5. Penetrating the 2nd rank. 6. Doubling the rooks on the 2nd rank.
171 The intrusion of the queen on the 7th rank can also be very effective, as we see in our next example. Game 43 Gelfand — Anand Biel, 1993 Diagram 202 Position after Black’s 18th move 19. Qxd7! Rfd8 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7? Better was 20. ... Kf8. Black’s pawn deficit would then be partly compensated for by the activity of his pieces. 21. Qxf7 Rxd2? This move doesn’t help. Neither does 21. ... Bxg2!? 22. Kxg2 Qg5+ (22. ... Rxd2 23. Qxe6 Rb6 24. Qe4+ Rg6+ 25. Kh1) 23. Kh1 Rxd2 24. Rg1 Qd5+ 25. f3 Qe5 26. Rg3 Rxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Qxb2+ 28. Kh3 Qxa1 29. Kg4!. 22. Ra4 Qg5 23. g3!
172 Diagram 203 Position after 23. g3! Both protecting against checkmate on g2 and threatening a dangerous check on h4. 23. ... e5 24. Rh4+ Qxh4 25. gxh4 Rd6 White has a decisive material advantage. But he still has to be careful to avoid last-minute tricks. 26. h5 Be4 27. Qe7 Rbb6 28. Qxe5 Not dangerous for White is 28. ... Rg6+ 29. hxg6 Rxg6+ 30. Qg3. 28. ... Re6 29. Qf4 Black resigns
173 Game 44 Vokach — Van der Wiel Dortmund, 1989 Diagram 204 Position after Black’s 26th move All of White’s pieces are actively placed, but the biggest danger to Black is White’s activity on the 7th rank. 27. Bxe6! This sacrifice exposes the entire 7th rank to White’s attack. 27. ... Bxe2 Accepting the sacrifice would lead to catastrophic results: 27. ... fxe6 28. Qe7 Qb2 29. Qxe6+ Kh8 30. Rxg7! Bxe2 31. Rg8+ Rxg8 32. Be5+. Diagram 205 Position after 27. ... Bxe2. 28. Qxf8+!! Wow!!
174 28. ... Kxf8 Or 28. ... Bxf8 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 (29. ... Kg7 30. Be8+) 30. Be5+ Bg7 31. Rc8+. 29. Bd6+ Kg8 If 29. ... Ke8 30. Rc8 mate. 30. Bxf7+ Kh8 31. Rc8+ Bf8 32. Be5 mate Learning Exercise 8-1: Open lines of attack Geller — Novotelnov Moscow, 1951 Diagram 206 White to move Use the open lines to attack the king and obtain a material advantage.
175 Learning Exercise 8-2: 7th-rank advantage Serper — Nicolaides St. Petersburg, 1993 Diagram 207 White to move White’s rook is on the 7th rank! But how can White use this advantage? Find at least the best first three moves. Learning Exercises 8-3: Which continuation? Botvinnik — Szabo Moscow, 1956 Diagram 208 White to move Which would be the best move for White? a) 1. Rxb7 b) 1. c5
176 Learning Exercise 8-4: Use the open files Pillsbury — Wolf Monte Carlo, 1903 Diagram 209 White to move and win Hint: Open the files! Learning Exercise 8-5: Rooking your opponent Study XIII century Diagram 210 White to move Find a win.
177 Learning Exercise 8-6: A rare double attack Barbeli — Kovach Bucharest, 1948 Diagram 211 White to move How can White win a piece? Answers to Learning Exercises 8-1) 1. Rxf8+! Kxf8 (or 1. ... Qxf8 2. Bh7+ Kh8 3. Bg6+ Kg8 4. Qh7 mate) 2. Qh8+ Kf7 3. Bg6+! Ke6 ( 3. ... Kxg6 4. Qh5 mate) 4. Qg8+ Kd7 5. Bf5+, with a win. 8-2) The game continued: 1. Rf7+! Qxf7 2. Qc8+ Qe8 3. d7 (In a real game, you need not see further than this!) 3. ... Kf7 4. dxe8(Q)+ Rxe8 5. Qb7+ Re7 6. c6!. This combinational idea has occurred for the second time in this game. It is not possible to accept the queen sacrifice. 6. ... e4 7. c7 e3 8. Qd5+ Kf6 9. Qd6+ Kf7 10. Qd5+ Kf6 11. Qd6+ Kf7 (White was probably repeating moves in time trouble in order to reach the time control.) 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. c8Q Bh6 14. Qc5+ Ke8 15. Qb5+ Kd8 16. Qb6+ Kd7 17. Qxg6 e2+ 18. Kxf2 Be3+ 19. Ke1, Black resigns. 8-3) If you played 1. c5! then you were correct. (After 1. Rxb7, Black would take the d-file.) The game continued: 1. ... Rfe8 2. Rfd1 f5 (on 2. ... Rab8 or 2. ... Ra7, White can play 3. Rc7, and the second White rook will enter the 7th rank with decisive effect.) 3. Rxb7 fxe4 4. Rd6 Kf7 5. Nf4 Reb8 6. Rbd7 Ke8 7. Ne6, Black resigns. On 7. ... Nd5, White would play 8. Bg5, with the threat of 9. Rxd5 and 10. Re7 mate. 8-4) 1. ... Bxg6 and Black resigned. If 1. ... Nxg6, then 2. Rxg6+ hxg3 3. Rh4; and on 1. ... Rb6, White just plays 2. Bxh7+.
178 8-5) 1. Rh5! Rxh5 2. Ra6+, and then 3. Ra5+ and 4. Rxh5, with an extra rook. 8-6) 1. Nxd7! (Not 1. Qxd7+? because of 1. ... Qxd7 2. Nxd7 Rxc2!.) 1. ... Qxd7 2. Qxd7+ Kxd7 3. 0-0-0+! and 4. Kxb2. The d-file helped White to win!
179 — CHAPTER 9 — Weak and Strong Squares A weak square is one which cannot be defended by a pawn, and is thus open to occupation by an enemy piece. For White such squares frequently occur along the 4th and 3rd ranks, and for Black, they occur most often on the 5th and 6th ranks. Such a square becomes a serious weakness when there is a threat that it might be used by the opponent — and it is of course very tempting to put your pieces on such a safe and comfortable square. One of the qualities of a weak square is that it increases the value of the piece that occupies it, especially a knight or bishop. The term weak point has a broader definition. It can be both a weak square and a weak pawn. Your opponent’s weak square has to be within his camp, but a weak enemy pawn can occur anywhere on the chess board. Reflecting upon these definitions, we might recall how many weak points we have created for our opponents to use during our chess experience. Now that we understand the importance of such squares, we can make a resolution — never to surrender valuable squares into enemy hands unless we have compelling reasons! A strong square is under a player’s permanent control, and can be used for realizing strategic and tactical threats. To activate a piece means to transfer it to a strong square. As we’ll see in the next position, converting your opponent’s weak squares into your own strong points can yield good results!
180 Game 45 Botvinnik — Flohr Moscow, 1936 Diagram 212 Position after Black’s 32nd move 33. c5! A multi-purpose move. The first purpose is to attack with b3-b4-b5, and the second one is to transfer the knight to the outpost on d6, Black’s weak spot and White’s stronghold. 33. ... a5 To stop the advance of the b-pawn. 34. Nb1 Qf8 35. Na3 Bd8 36. Nc4 Bc7 37. Nd6
181 Diagram 213 Position after 37. Nd6 White has executed his second plan and is not afraid of the exchange on d6, because he would then have a strong, protected passed pawn. 37. ... Rb8 38. Rb1 Here White could have also played 38. Nxb7 Rxb7 39. Qxc6 and 40. Qxe6+, but the move played in the game is very strong too. 38. ... Qd8 39. b4 axb4 40. Rxb4 Bxd6 41. exd6 With the exchange on d6, White creates a very strong pawn on that square and pressures the weak points b7 and e6. 41. ... Qa5 42. Rdb3 Re8 43. Qe2 Qa8!? 44. Re3 Kf7 Diagram 214 Position after 44. ... Kf7 Here White should have been careful first to move his king away from the long diagonal (in order to take the sting out of the threatened ... b7-b5!),
182 and only then played Qc4, after which White’s victory would not be in doubt. Botvinnik erred with 45. Qc4? b5!, but still maintained a decisive advantage and won after: 46. Qc2 Rxd6 47. cxd6 c5+ 48. Kh3 cxb4 49. Qc7+ Kg8 50. d7 Rf8 51. Qd6 h6 52. Qxe6+ Kh7 53. Qe8 b3 54. Qxa8 Rxa8 55. axb5 Rd8 56. Rxb3 Rxd7 57. b6 1-0 Game 46 Tarrasch — Lasker, Em. 2nd match game, Dusseldorf, 1908 Diagram 215 Position after Black’s 24th move In this position it is unclear if Black has any compensation for the pawn after, for example, 25. Nf5. But in the game White played: 25. exd5? After which Black gained a stronghold on e3. 25. ... Be3+ 26. Kf1 cxd5 27. Rd3 Better was 27. Nf5. 27. ... Qe6 28. Re2 f5
183 29. Rd1 f4 30. Nh1 Diagram 216 Position after 30. Nh1 This move speaks for itself. White is in trouble. 30. ... d4 31. Nf2 Qa6 32. Nd3 Rg5 Diagram 217 Position after 32. ... Rg5 Now is the time to exploit the power of the bishop, which dominates the game and splits White’s position in two. 33. Ra1 Qh6 34. Ke1 Losing is 34. h3 Rg3 35. Qd5 f3!, reaching White’s king.
184 34. ... Qxh2 35. Kd1 Qg1+ 36. Ne1 Rge5 37. Qc6 R5e6 Deflecting the queen from controlling the e8-square, so that the bishop can move to f2. 38. Qxc7 R8e7 39. Qd8+ Kg7 40. a4 Diagram 218 Position after 40. a4 Now Black breaks through. 40. ... f3! 41. gxf3 Bg5! White resigns. He is lost because there is a decisive pin on the knight. The Black bishop did his work well. Behind it Black was able to build up a decisive attack. At the same time, this bishop prevented White from coordinating his own army. From the very first moves of a chess game, the pawn structure begins to change. Its condition at any moment during a game is important in
185 determining the correct evaluation of the position. One must consider not only the weaknesses of the pawns themselves, but also the weaknesses of nearby squares. This is why thoughtless pawn moves can result in the creation of weak squares. But how can a weak square in the opponent’s camp be used? Game 47 Milner-Barry — Znosko-Borovski Tainby, 1928 Diagram 219 Position after White’s 14th move What is the correct evaluation of this position? In his book Judgment and Planning in Chess, the 5th World Champion, Dr. Max Euwe, says of this position: “White has the better game because of his strong square at e5 and the greater freedom of movement of his forces on the kingside. The plan: Support the activities of the piece posted at e5 (bishop or knight) by bringing the major pieces to the kingside. The success of this operation is made considerably easier by Black’s doubled g-pawn.” The most important factor in the position is White’s possession of the e5- square, even though it is not a permanent outpost. Black could, in case of an emergency, play ... f7-f6, although this would weaken the e6-pawn. White has the half-open e-file under control, which is more important than
186 Black’s influence on the half-open c-file. Yes, Black can relocate his knight to c4, but that square is located far from White’s king, while the e5- square is in the very center of the board and is dangerously close to the residence of the Black king. 14. ... Nd7 15. Ndf3 Ncxe5 16. Nxe5! The best! Capturing instead with a pawn on e5 would deprive that square of much of its strategic value. 16. ... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 This bishop pressures the opponent’s kingside no less than the knight did. 17. ... Qc6 If 17. ... f6, then 18. Bh2, and the pawn on e6 is weak. 18. Re3! One for all and all for one! The White troops line up to support their comrade on e5. 18. ... b5 Counterplay on the queenside comes a bit too late. 19. Qd1 An important regrouping. 19. ... b4 A better try is 19. ... Bd6.
187 Diagram 220 Position after 19. ... b4 20. h4! Opening the file is the direct way to attack the Black king. 20. ... bxc3? Of course taking on h4 is suicidal. Relatively best is 20. ... f6. 21. Rxc3 Qb6 Diagram 221 Position after 21. ... Qb6 22. h5! g5 If 22. ... f6, then 23. hxg6 fxe5 24. Qh5, winning. 23. h6!! f6 Other moves also lose; for example, 23. ... g6 24. h7+; 23. ... gxh6 24. Qh5; or 23. ... Bf6 24. hxg7 Bxg7 (24. ... Kxg7 25. Qh5) 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qh5 f6 27. Rfc1 Rf7 28. Rh3, winning.
188 24. Qh5! Bd8 On 24. ... fxe5, White plays 25. Qg6 Bf6 26. Rfc1, with the idea of 27. Rc7, when the invasion on the 7th rank wins. 25. Qg6 Qb7 Diagram 222 Position after 25. ... Qb7 26. Rc7!Black resigns Let’s look at a classic example of using a strong square. Game 48 Rubinstein — Salwe Lodz, 1908
189 Diagram 223 Position after Black’s 18th move Black has a weak, backward pawn on c6. White needs to blockade it, thus turning the c5-square into a strong square. 19. Bf1! White regroups his forces. 19. ... Rec8 20. e3 Black has no counterplay, while White’s pieces are active and wellcoordinated. 20. ... Qb7 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 Rc7 Diagram 224 Position 22. ... Rc7
190 Now White has a good bishop, and Black has a bad one. Black had better chances for a successful defense with 22. ... a5!?, gaining some space. 23. Rfc2 Qb6 24. b4 Now c5 is truly in White’s hands. 24. ... a6 Necessary to stop 20. b5, but now this pawn is also on a wrong color — and weak. 25. Ra5 Rb8 Or 25. ... Qxd4 26. exd4 Bc8 27. Rxd5. 26. a3 Ra7 Diagram 225 Position after 26. ... Ra7 27. Rxc6! Now White obtains a material advantage. 27. ... Qxc6 28. Qxa7 Ra8 29. Qc5 Qb7 30. Kf2 h5
191 31. Be2 Diagram 226 Position after 31. Be2 31. ... g6 31. ... Rc8 will be followed by 32. Bxa6! 32. Qd6 Qc8 33. Rc5 Once again White uses this square for his pieces. The rest is easy: 33. ... Qb7 34. h4 a5 35. Rc7 Qb8 36. b5 a4 37. b6 Ra5 38. b7, Black resigns. This game is a good example of the struggle against “hanging” pawns at c6 and d5. Now let’s take a look at a modern-day example of Botvinnik-like technique. Game 49 Oll —Woitkevich New York Open, 1994
192 Diagram 227 Position after Black’s 17th move 18. Ne1! White has a plan in the style of Game 45 (Botvinnik-Flohr): Nd3, b4, Ndc5, and after ... Nxc5, bxc5 – followed by Nd6, and White has a won position! In the game Black was helpless against this plan. Oll benefited from his knowledge of the classics! 18. ... Qe8 18. ... c5 was clearly better. 19. Nd3 g5 20. b4! Qg6 21. Ndc5 Black can’t endure this knight for long. 21. ... Nxc5 22. bxc5 Rad8 23. Nd6
193 Diagram 228 Position after 23. Nd6 This knight is a nail in Black’s chair! 23. ... Bxd6 24. exd6! Now e6 is a real weakness. 24. ... Rd7 25. Ra3 Diagram 229 Position after 25. Ra3 White has completed his plan, and stands much better thanks to the strong pawn at d6 and to the weaknesses at b7 and e6. Now White needs to double his rooks on the b-file, while activating his other pieces as well. 25. ... Rf6 26. Rg3 Qf7
194 27. Bd2 Qe8 28. Qe4 Qh5 Diagram 230 Position after 28. ... Qh5 29. Rb3 This rook does a great job on both flanks. 29. ... Qh4 30. f3! Qxe4 31. fxe4 Rxf1+ 32. Kxf1 Nf6 Diagram 231 Position after 32. ... Nf6 33. d5! Not 33. e5 Nd5, and Black’s knight has his own strong square.
195 33. ... cxd5 The only try since 33. ... exd5 34. e5 Ne4 35. e6 Nxd2+ 36. Ke1 (It is not too late to lose! 36. Ke2?? Nxb3 37. exd7 Nd4+ and 38. ... Ne6.) would cost Black the game immediately. 34. e5 Ne4 Diagram 232 Position after 34. ... Ne4 35. Ke2! The point. Not clear are 35. Be3 d4!; and 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. c6 Rf7+ 37. Ke2 Nc5!. 35. ... Nxc5 After 35. ... Nxd2, White does not even need to play 36. Rxb7—the rook ending following 36. Kxd2 is winning after Rb6-c6-Rxa6-Ra8. The apawn is decisive. 36. Rc3 Ne4 37. Rc7 Rd8 38. Be3 Black resigns. He’s going to lose a lot of material.
196 — CHAPTER 10 — When a Complex of Squares is Weak In order to win, it is often necessary to create at least two weak points in the enemy camp. Alternating attacks between the two weaknesses can then shake the foundation of your opponent’s position, and his pieces can become overworked trying to defend all his weak points. Sometimes one side has not just one weak square, but a whole series, or complex, of weak squares. When several squares of the same color — whether light or dark — become weak, then we are already talking about a complex of weak squares. We have already encountered this idea when we were discussing oppositecolor bishops in the middlegame. With opposite-color bishops, the weakness of a complex of squares is exaggerated. The side suffering from a weak square complex suffers many difficulties. The opponent’s pieces are completely unopposed throughout the weak square complex, and can actively influence neighboring squares as well. In positions with a weak complex of squares, a special role is played by the queen, and by the bishop of the same color as the weak squares. In attacking via these weak squares, the activity of these pieces rapidly increases. In defending such squares, they help neutralize the attacking forces. If these defensive pieces are removed (by exchanging them, for example), there is often nothing left to guard the weak square complex. Game 50 Keres — Guti Tel Aviv, 1964
197 Diagram 233 Position after Black’s 14th move Black has a weak dark-square complex on d6-e7-f6-g7, and as a result, White’s queen and bishop can make use of the diagonals a3-f8 and h4-d8. The game ended very quickly. 15. Bd2 Qa3 16. Bb4 Qa4 17. Qf6 Black resigns Both threats (Qe7 mate and Qxh8+) cannot be answered at the same time. Game 51 Instructive example Diagram 234 Position after Black’s 8th move Here Black’s attempt to control the dark squares on the kingside and in the center fails because of his lag in development.
198 9. f4!! gxf4 If 9. ... exf4, then 10. Qxd4 gxh4 11. Rxf4 d5 12. exd5; or 9. ... gxh4 10. fxe5. Also of no help is 9. ... Nxe4 10. fxe5 (10. Bxf7!?) Ne6 11. Qf3, and Black’s position is uncomfortable. 10. Rxf4! exf4 There is no alternative. 11. Qxd4 0-0 12. Bxf6 Qe8 13. Bh8 And checkmate in two. Game 52 Nikolayevski — Geller Championship of the USSR, 1966 Diagram 235 Position after White’s 18th move Black’s knight on b4 does very little. In fact, it blocks his own rook. White, on the other hand, is ready to double rooks on the f-file and to start hunting the knight on h5 with g3-g4. White’s grip on the dark squares looks dependable, especially on the c1-h6 diagonal. But as often happens in King’s Indian positions, tactics come to Black’s rescue. 18. ... Nc2!
199 19. Bf4 Of course not 19. Qxc2 Qxg5 or 19. Rac(d)1 Nd4, with a better game for Black in both cases. Now Black must sacrifice his queen. 19. ... Nxa1 20. Bxe5 Nb3 An important in-between move — White’s own queen comes under attack. 21. Qd1 Bxe5 Diagram 236 Position after 21. ... Bxe5 White has the material advantage of a queen over a rook and a minor piece. But on the other side of the ledger, White has a bad bishop on g2, Black dominates the dark squares, Black owns the b-file, and his rooks are ready to invade the enemy camp. 22. Nb1 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 24. Kh2 Rb4 And Black went on to win after doubling his rooks on the b-file. Game 53 Stahlberg — Stein Erevan, 1965
200 Diagram 237 Position after White’s 15th move 15. ... Nd7!! A truly great move — Black blocks his c8-bishop and leaves his rook under attack! But Black does all this simply in order to remove White’s dark-squared bishop from the board. This bishop is the main gatekeeper of the complex of dark squares in White’s position. It is also important to Black that the queens do not get exchanged. 16. Bxf8 Qh4+! 17. Kd2 Not 17. g3 fxg3, with the threat of ... g3-g2+. 17. ... Bxf8 18. Qe1 Qe7 19. Kc2 Diagram 238 Position after 19. Kc2